A New Way to File

When you mention “filing” few positive emotions and reactions come to mind…unless you are professional organizer. For years, my trusty label-maker and I have brought order to countless client’s personal and professional files. But Karen Roehl’s invention, called FIFI™ — File It and Find It™ — just goes to show you that you CAN even teach an old dog new tricks! With FIFI™, there really is no need for a label maker or file indices (the tabs that insert into files.)

Roehl’s (FIFI™) is a color-coded filing system designed for simplicity, efficiency, and organization.  It comes ready to use with existing home or small business filing systems.  FIFI™ can also be used to create a new filing system.  Whether you are incorporating FIFI™ into an existing system or creating a new system, set up FIFI™ and literally you are ready to File It and Find It™!

What I love about FIFI™,  is its simplicity, uniformity and colors. Rather than over categorize your files, a common mistake, FIFI™ has the basic necessities for any home filing system. FIFI™ had done the work for you.  Anyone who uses it has an instant filing system that is easy to follow! FIFI™ only needs a box of files and a drawer or file crate to work with. The hard cardboard card stand up beautifully and uniformly in hanging file folders (as shown above.)

Karen Roehl, owner of Clear Living®, Inc., is a Clarity Coach and Life Organizer who has helped individuals, families, and businesses to clarify their lives for more than 10 years. She is passionate about helping individuals and families to clear their clutter and get organized in their personal and professional lives. She brings a unique and compassionate approach to those wanting to create a new reality with their paper, space, time, and projects. You can visit her at www.clearliving.biz.

Contact Wendy on ordering her favorite FIFI™,  or for her simple tactics on filing at www.littlemissefficiency.com. You can also email info@littlemissefficiency.com or call us locally 702.673.0624 for file systems set up.  If you would like to learn more about organizing or hiring your own professional organizer to get your files simplified and in order, please contact Little Miss Efficiency.

Written by Wendy A. Miller, CEO and Founder of Little Miss Efficiency, wwwlittlemisseffiency.com, 702.673.0624. COPYRIGHT: This article may not be reprinted or quoted anywhere without written permission.  This email is protected by copyright. Copying of this article – or of any works presented or recommended by Wendy A. Miller – is strictly prohibited. These works may not be reprinted in any form on any website, blog, book, ebook, or any other form without the express written permission of Wendy A. Miller. All Rights Reserved.

David Allen’s Getting Things Done – The Art of Stress-Free Productivity

One of my newest, favorite books is David Allen’s Getting Things Done – The Art of Stress-Free Productivity. GTD, the popular shorthand for Getting Things Done, is really the gold standard in personal management and is used by the world’s best and brightest executives and companies. Learn how to get meaningful things done with the least amount of invested attention and energy!

Allen simplifies the concept of every day work and all the “stuff” that goes with those responsibilities. At one time or another we are all guilty of inappropriately managing commitments. But GTD helps you inventory them and review them in a more systematic way. Allen’s GTD helps you get “on your game” with “six horizons” of commitments to follow: purpose, vision, goals, areas of focus, projects, and actions.

The human brain has limited capabilities when it comes to holding information. This especially rings true for me, with my own short-term memory issues. Allen eloquently describes how to capture your “incompletes” and “open loops” while establishing a “collection bucket” to get it all done in the most productive fashion.

Use this book’s common sense to inventory and organize all your commitments. If you would like to learn more about David Allen and his GTD phenomenon, visit his website at http://www.davidco.com/what_is_gtd.php.  If you would like to learn more about being more productive or working with your own personal organizing coach, please contact Little Miss Efficiency’s at 702.673.0624 or info@littlemissefficiency.com

Written by Wendy A. Miller, CEO and Founder of Little Miss Efficiency, wwwlittlemisseffiency.com, 702.673.0624. COPYRIGHT: This article may not be reprinted or quoted anywhere without written permission.  This email is protected by copyright. Copying of this article – or of any works presented or recommended by Wendy A. Miller – is strictly prohibited. These works may not be reprinted in any form on any website, blog, book, ebook, or any other form without the express written permission of Wendy A. Miller. All Rights Reserved.

Organize Your Critical Life Information Electronically

 

You’ve got multiple passwords, log on ids, their particular website portals, telephone numbers, bank account information, spouse’s information, kids’ information…all floating around in your head. Hopefully you remember it all, all the time, right? What do you do when you’re on the road, stuck at the office, or need critical medical information at the hospital? What do you do when you need these tidbits of information right now? If you are tired of personal papers all over the place and want to start moving to a more convenient, electronic lifestyle, I have the software for you!

After all, an efficient document storage system is one of the best ways to stay organized. Ease the overwhelming task of organizing your information clutter with Orggit – the online, ddigital filing cabinet with 56 customizable tabs and storage space for approximately 10,000 documents. And up to 10 family members, with individual access rights can be added.

From vital health information to everyday passwords, Orggit will help you manage life’s most important information, securely, in one convenient place. Orggit has a simple interface with four distinct sections–Wallet, Medical, Accounts and Codes, and Filing Cabinet. The information is stored securely and there is an iPhone app so it is completely mobile. Orggit seems mission critical for parents, teachers, students, caregivers, and your financial advisors.

Think about you and your family’s current document management process. If it is not working, Orggit can ultimately save you time searching for missing information and sorting through the disorganized information clutter. Orggit has aautomatic reminders for the expiration of your driver’s license, credit cards and passport too. The benefits are endless and very affordable at $49 annually.

If you would like to learn more about Orggit, check out their website at www.orggit.com. If you would like to learn more about how to organize your important life documents, please contact LME directly at 702.673.0624 or info@littlemissefficiency.com Written by Wendy A. Miller, CEO and Founder of Little Miss Efficiency, wwwlittlemisseffiency.com, 702.673.0624. COPYRIGHT: This article may not be reprinted or quoted anywhere without written permission.  This email is protected by copyright. Copying of this article – or of any works presented or recommended by Wendy A. Miller – is strictly prohibited. These works may not be reprinted in any form on any website, blog, book, ebook, or any other form without the express written permission of Wendy A. Miller. All rights reserved.

Start Getting Home Mail Clutter under Control

The average American receives 568 pieces of mail annually, and 49,060 pieces of mail in their lifetime; one third of it is junk mail. . Tax dollars spent to dispose of junk mail: $320 million.

 

Sad facts indeed! But there are steps you can take to get your paper clutter and mail organised and in order. Here are three simple, but important decisions your home needs to make to move forward on mail clutter :

 

•  Determine one person, who will be the designated “mail person”

 

•  Determine and stick to one pick up time daily, for your daily mail deliveries (this can be someone besides the “mail person”)

 

•  Determine, set and stick to only one designated location in your home to do daily “washing and ironing” of your home’s mail (hallway, garage, office)

 

Written by Wendy A. Miller, CEO and Founder of Little Miss Efficiency Organising Services and Consulting, www.littlemissefficiency.com, 702.673.0624. COPYRIGHT: This article may not be reprinted or quoted anywhere without written permission.  This email is protected by copyright. Copying of this article – or of any works presented or recommended by Wendy A. Miller – is strictly prohibited. These works may not be reprinted in any form on any website, blog, book, e-book, or any other form without the express written permission of Wendy A. Miller. All Rights Reserved.

Stop Letting Time Escape You

Better time management is something you must work on every day. If you feel like that hamster on the wheel, it’s definitely time for a mindset change. Time is not the villain. You can control it. Just be vigilant with protecting your time and meeting all your deadlines. It will not just magically improve for you in one day. Here are some baby steps to get better at managing your schedule and getting it all done.

 

IDENTIFY PEAK PRODUCTIVITY TIMES

Consider when you are the most/least productive. Are you are morning person? A night owl? When are you most motivated and have the most energy? When you are feeling your best, that is your best, personal productive time. If you schedule a task that you truly dislike during a time when you are least productive it’s unlikely the task will ever get done.

 

WHEN ARE YOU AT YOUR BEST

Do most tedious or difficult tasks then. Like reports, expense reports, paperwork you hate etc.  But schedule that task when you are  the most productive and you will be sure to get it done quickly, with less mistakes and a better attitude. Listen to your moods.

 

TIME LOG

How much time do things really take? For two days, jot down what you are doing, when you are doing it and how long it is taking you. This time log is more than likely to surprise you. You will see how much time is wasted in many unexpected ways. Often it appears that the busier you feel the more time is wasted.

 

If you would like to learn more about time management, and how  to better organise your time, call Little Miss Efficiency Organising Services and Consulting for a consultation at 702.673.0624 or info@littlemissefficiency.com. You can also listen to Little Miss Efficiency Organising Services and Consulting’s radio appearances that stream live worldwide, on KLAV 1230 AM – The Talk of Las Vegas at www.littlemissefficiency.com. Just click on the KLAV link.

 

Written by Wendy A. Miller, CEO and Founder of Little Miss Efficiency Organising Services and Consulting, www.littlemissefficiency.com, 702.673.0624. COPYRIGHT: This article may not be reprinted or quoted anywhere without written permission.  This email is protected by copyright. Copying of this article – or of any works presented or recommended by Wendy A. Miller – is strictly prohibited. These works may not be reprinted in any form on any website, blog, book, e-book, or any other form without the express written permission of Wendy A. Miller. All Rights Reserved.

What does it mean to be organised really?

So what does it mean to be organised? Being organised is more than just being neat, and having things tidy. It’s about finding what you need, when you need it, where you need it …or use it for that matter.

 

So if you always take your shoes off in the first floor home office, and that is the last place you always go on your way out the door, you should probably have a closed cabinet shoe storage area in that office.  If you always open your mail in the garage, every day, then you should have a shredder and mail sorting system in the garage.

 

When you are better organised, life is easier. You don’t have to hunt all over the place looking for things. You have the tools you need, when and where you need them. You wouldn’t want your wardrobe on the 1^st floor, if you always get dressed in your master bedroom on the 2^nd floor, would you?

 

Organising does take time, but the benefit outweighs the chaos and stress of searching for things. Being organised means you have permanent homes for everything, so there is no question where something goes.

 

If you would like to learn more about productivity or enlisting in the help of a professional organiser,  call Little Miss Efficiency Organising Services and Consulting for a consultation at 702.673.0624 or info@littlemissefficiency.com. You can also listen to Little Miss Efficiency Organising Services and Consulting past appearances that stream live worldwide, on KLAV 1230 AM – The Talk of Las Vegas at www.littlemissefficiency.com. Just click on the KLAV link.

 

Written by Wendy A. Miller, CEO and Founder of Little Miss Efficiency Organising Services and Consulting, www.littlemissefficiency.com, 702.673.0624. COPYRIGHT: This article may not be reprinted or quoted anywhere without written permission.  This email is protected by copyright. Copying of this article – or of any works presented or recommended by Wendy A. Miller – is strictly prohibited. These works may not be reprinted in any form on any website, blog, book, e-book, or any other form without the express written permission of Wendy A. Miller. All Rights Reserved.

Manage Your Time Better and Be More Productive

 

It’s about time to look at what is and is not working for you. It takes time to achieve goals. Are you focusing and achieving all yours? Chances are you are short for time and always wishing for more. You can achieve more 2009 goals with better time management. Here are seven time management tips from Little Miss Efficiency.

 

1) Practice with Patience

Better time management is something you must actively work on every day. It will not just magically improve for you in one day. Rather, it takes baby steps and practice to get better at managing your schedule. A little effort every day will make a whole world of difference.

 

2) Wiggle it

Mimic what successful doctors do. Build in “wiggle room,” or 15 minutes breaks, into your daily calendar. Based on an eight-hour work day, shoot for scheduling four “wiggle spots” daily. You will be glad you did, especially when those meetings spill over or an unexpected emergency blows up.

 

3) Dedicated Time Chunks

Organise your day by carving out “chunks of time” on your calendar, specifically

dedicated to key projects and task completion. Instead of answering every call and

responding to every email as they arrive, dedicate specific time for these tasks. You will be less distracted and better focused.

 

4) Break it Down

Break larger projects and responsibilities into small strategic and tactical categories. If you have a major presentation coming up, schedule time on your calendar to compete the intro, the research, the graphics, etc. You will be better prepared, have more time to thing about the details, and less stressed at the last minute.

 

5) Clear your Desktop

All of us spend quite a bit of time on our laptops and computers. So make that electronic desktop clear of electronic clutter. Delete shortcuts and icons you don’t use. Keep your email ‘in’ box as empty as possible by using electronic folders. Break away from using your email box.

 

If you would like to learn more about improving your productivity and time management,  and would like the assistance of a professional organiser, call Little Miss Efficiency Organising Services and Consulting for a consultation at 702.673.0624 or info@littlemissefficiency.com. You can also listen to Little Miss Efficiency Organising Services and Consulting live, streaming live worldwide, on KLAV 1230 AM – The Talk of Las Vegas on the first Thursday of the month, at 1 pm pst at www.klav1230am.com.

 

Written by Wendy A. Miller, CEO and Founder of Little Miss Efficiency Organising Services and Consulting, www.littlemissefficiency.com, 702.673.0624. COPYRIGHT: This article may not be reprinted or quoted anywhere without written permission.  This email is protected by copyright. Copying of this article – or of any works presented or recommended by Wendy A. Miller – is strictly prohibited. These works may not be reprinted in any form on any website, blog, book, e-book, or any other form without the express written permission of Wendy A. Miller. All Rights Reserved.

What are My Vital Files?

These colorful, unique, 1/3 cut manila folders are a professional organiser’s dream. And the color adds a zip to your day when doing dreaded filing tasks.

 

What I like about these files first are their bright colors, on both the outside and inside. I am a color person so I used My Vital Files extensively in my office. I also like to use them at the bottom of my desk file drawer for al my hot projects that I work on every day. Another cool feature of these files is they arrive to you ready made with pre-made labels.

 

The folders are cleanly cut and reversible. The unique design of each folder allows all file titles to sit above the ledge of a hanging folders so plastic tabs and inserts are eliminated all together.

 

My friend Peggy at Vital Files also will send you blank file labels for a minimal charge. The system shown above does not come with the file tote, but does come with 80 pre-labeled folders, 10 unlabeled folders and two sheets of blank labels for a great cost that comes out very reasonable per folder for color and fun.

If you would like to learn more about how to use My Vital Files or need the assistance of a professional organiser, call Little Miss Efficiency Organising Services for a consultation at 702.673.0624 or info@littlemissefficiency.com. You can also listen to us live, streaming live worldwide on KLAV 1230 AM – The Talk of Las Vegas on the first Thursday of the month, at 1 pm p.s.t at www.klav1230am.com.

 

Written by Wendy A. Miller, CEO and Founder of Little Miss Efficiency Organising Services and Consulting, www.littlemissefficiency.com, 702.673.0624. COPYRIGHT: This article may not be reprinted or quoted anywhere without written permission.  This email is protected by copyright. Copying of this article – or of any works presented or recommended by Wendy A. Miller – is strictly prohibited. These works may not be reprinted in any form on any website, blog, book, ebook, or any other form without the express written permission of Wendy A. Miller. All Rights Reserved.

Why You should Hire a Professional Organiser

These days, more and more, it seems like we are working more hours, meeting more demands, and doing it all with less resources. In this world of heavy multi-tasking, you simply cannot afford NOT to be organised. And there is a direct link from organisation to success. That’s why having your own professional organiser is so popular.

Little Miss Efficiency is a one-stop shop for all things organisation for homes, small businesses and seniors. Our professional organisers help you get organised with hands on organising services and consulting.

With a Needs Assessment Consultation, we come in, study your space, how it’s laid out, where systems are failing, where things might be backlogging and piling up. We get to know your learning style and working style so we can create customized solutions that fit you. So it’s a very personalized service and process.

So get organised, get de-cluttered and be happy.  Little miss Efficiency’s professional organisers put the order and calm back into living and working. We help you with what i like to call the three S’s:

1.  Save Time – No more looking for things or losing things constantly. we help you make a logical home for everything so it is in its place and thus find-able ….again.

2.  Save Money – You stop buying replacements for things you already own, but can’t find. You won’t be buying things again and again, because they’re misplaced. When you are organised, you know what you have and where it’s located. Duplicate purchases don’t happen when you are have your own professional organiser.

3.  Save your precious space – We help you create a home and office that you love spending time in.  You are only surrounded by the things that you use, love and inspire you…not clutter.

Whether you are chronically disorganised, or just need a little organisational direction, a professional organiser (PO) can guide you on your way to peace —which is what organisation brings. A PO will study your learning style, working style, and space to create customized solutions for you. Professional organisers are also one of the best resources you can have for the latest organisational products.

When working closely with a PO, they often become your friend, a member of your family, unofficially part psychologist, housekeeper, decorator, teacher, confidant, and coach. According to the National Association of Professional Organisers (NAPO), POs enhance the lives of clients by designing systems and processes using organising principles and through transferring organizing skills. POs help individuals and businesses take control of their surroundings, their time, their papers, and their systems for life.

At a NAPO convention, Wendy A. Miller and Peter Walsh, organizer on the TLC program Clean Sweep; and author of “How to Organize (Just About) Everything”  and “It’s All Too Much.”

If you would like to learn more about professional organising services and how we can make your life easier, call us for a consultation at 702.673.0624 or info@littlemissefficiency.com.

Written by Wendy A. Miller, CEO and Founder of Little Miss Efficiency, wwwlittlemisseffiency.com, 702.673.0624. COPYRIGHT: This article may not be reprinted or quoted anywhere without written permission.  This email is protected by copyright. Copying of this article – or of any works presented or recommended by Wendy A. Miller – is strictly prohibited. These works may not be reprinted in any form on any website, blog, book, ebook, or any other form without the express written permission of Wendy A. Miller. All Rights Reserved.

How to Organise a Busy Desk

There are four categories to help you manage your workflow and paper clutter every day. This fearsome foursome will spiral your desk out of control, unless you have dedicated spaces for each of the four. They cannot be combined under any circumstances. Now remember, creating systems or homes for things improves the way you work so here’s the categories; In Box, Action Zone (folder stand up), Out Box, Reference zone.

These four areas of your daily workflow, need a container or zone on your desk (like illustrated by the yellow areas), dedicated specifically to each of them. This is a good way to get your paper flow under control on any desk. Plus you will get some extra, clear space to work at your desk every day.

IN BOX
The in box accumulates everything that crosses your desk, especially new items, that require your attention. So when the mail comes and you are running out the door, don’t just put it on your desk. It’s new. Put it in your “in” box. Just watch that it doesn’t overflow.

ACTION ITEMS
If you are working on several projects at once, separate the paperwork for each project into manila folders marked with the name of the project. Invest in a vertical sorter where you can clearly store the graduated action files. I prefer to see this right in front of me, on my desk.

OUT BOX
This is the holding bin for papers you are done with or are moving on to someone or somewhere else, to be mailed or even filed

REFERENCE AREA
Here you put all things you refer to every day, like account numbers, chamber directories, manuals, rules, regulations, codes, etc. They need to be handy, and in one zone on your desk. Behind your computer is perfect, as this is often unused and wasted desk space.

This idea of having dedicated zones on your desk will:

• Minimize clutter

• Provides a clear vision as to what needs to be accomplished at any given point

• Enables you to easily retrieve necessary information, at any part of the work flow process

• Allows you to effectively handle multiple responsibilities!

If you wish your desktop looked more like this or would like to learn how yours can function this simply, Little Miss Efficiency can help with a personal desk zoning session. Please contact Little Miss Efficiency directly at 702.673.0624 or info@littlemissefficiency.com

Written by Wendy A. Miller, CEO and Founder of Little Miss Efficiency, www.littlemissefficiency.com, 702.673.0624. COPYRIGHT: This article may not be reprinted or quoted anywhere without written permission. This email is protected by copyright. Copying of this article – or of any works presented or recommended by Wendy A. Miller – is strictly prohibited. These works may not be reprinted in any form on any website, blog, book, ebook, or any other form without the express written permission of Wendy A. Miller. All Rights Reserved.

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